Coin-actuated mechanism.



A. F. HAUSS.

COIN ACTUATED MECHANISM.-

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21. 1912.

Patented July 13, .1915.

awoawto o .TED STATES ALBERT F. HAUSS, OF AURORA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD 'IO EDWARD F. QBERHELMAN, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, AND ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE LUBREGI-IT, OF

COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

GOIN-ACTUATED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I,'ALBERT F. HAUSS, citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Aurora, county of Dearborn, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Actuated Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

An object of this invention is to produce a new and improved coin-controlled apparatus which is simpler in construction and is more effective in operation than other similar apparatus nowdknown to me.

A further object is to produce new and improved fraud preventing means which are capable of rejecting metal disks or coins, of a different denomination from those which the apparatus is constructed to receive, before the faulty coin is rendered effective in operating the apparatus.

These and other objects I attain in a device embodying the features herein described, and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of'a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, with the apparatus turned so as to disclose a laterally disposed coin-ejecting slot which is provided in the coin delivery passage.

Referring to the drawings: The apparatus illustrated includes a coin-receiving slot4, which is located in any convenient and accessible place and forms the entrance to a coin delivery passage .5. The passage 5 is turned at an angle and is provided at the end of a downwardly extending portion, with a slot or elongated aperture 6 for rejecting or discharging coins or metal disks which are thinner than the coins, the apparatus is designed toreceive. The passage 5 is shown as having a horizontally disposed portion, communicating with the vertically extending portion, throughwhich coins of the proper thickness are moved by means of a manually operated plunger 7. The horizontally disposed portion of the passage 5 is provided with anopening through which coins of the proper size, and coins or; metal disks of less diameter than those with which the apparatus is constructed to codperate,

are ejected. The opening is so formed, however, that the small coins and disks are e ected before they are rendered effective 1n operatmg the coin-controlled mechanism.

The slot 4 is of such dimensions that it will not permit of the introduction of a coin ordisk which is larger in diameter or is thicker than the coins, the apparatus is constructed to receive. For example, if the apparatus is' adapted to be operated by a five cent piece or nickel, the slot 4 is so constructed that it will just receive a nickel and will not permit of the introduction of a larger coin or metal disk. The portion of the passage 5, immediately communicating with the slot. f, is inclined downwardly and so arranged that a coin inserted through the slot 4 will roll along it and be discharged into the vertically extending portion of the passage. This portion of the passage terminates in the horizontal portion in which the slit 6 is formed. The slit 6 is located along the bottom of the tube and is narrower than the width of the coin which the aperture is adapted to receive, but is of such width that it will discharge any coin or metal disks which are slightly less in thickness than coins of the proper size.

As illustrated, the tube, forming the inclined and vertical portions of the passage 5, terminates in a block 8, the lower portion of which is slotted to receive the tube forming the horizontal portion of the coin delivery passage, and also the tube 9'which forms a guide forthe plunger 7. The slot in the block 8-extends almost to the bottom of the block and forms a discharge passage for coins ejected through the slit 6. It will be understood that the block may be so constructed that it will deliver coins discharged through the slit 6 to an accessible point outside of the casing 10, which is shown inclosing the passage 5 and forming a receptacle for the coins passing through it.

The horizontal portion of the passage 5 is shown provided with a laterally disposed coin discharge aperture 11, which is of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the coin adapted to be received by the slot. As shown,'the tube is also provided with a longitudinally extending slot 12 which is located opposite to the aperture 11 and through which a fiat spring 13 projects into the tube. The spring 13 is located opposite to the aperture 11 and is so arranged that it tends to block the passage through the tube and also to yieldingly divert a coin passing therethrough so that it is ejected through the aperture 11.

The plunger 7 is provided for the purpose of moving coins through the horizontal portion of the passage 5 and into contact with a finger 14 which forms a part of the coincontrolled mechanism herein illustrated. The outer, or accessible portion of the plunger 7 projects through the casing and is located in an accessible position. Its inner end is inclosed by the tube 9 which is in alinement with the horizontal portion of the passage 5. Any suitable means may be employed for normally holding the plunger 7 in the outward or inoperative position and, in the apparatus illustrated, I have provided a coiled spring 15 for performing this function. The spring operates between the casing 10, to which it is secured in any suitable manner, and a pin 16, carried by the plunger, and projecting through a slot 17 formed in the tubing 9 and also in the block 8. The

inward motion of the plunger 7 moves the coin, located in the horizontal portion of the passage, into contact with the spring 13, and then along the spring and through the horizontal portion of the passage. The spring exerts a lateral pressure on the coin. moving across it, and, as soon as the peripheral edge of the coin is freed of the peripheral edge of the slot, ejects the coin through the aperture 11.

While the aperture 11 is larger in diameter than the length of the slot 4, the finger 14 of the coin-controlled mechanism is so located that it will be engaged by the coin, of the proper size prior to the time that the edge of the coin is freed from the edge of the aperture 11. This is accomplished by so locating the finger that the distance between its end and the diametrically opposite portion of the aperture 11 is slightly less than the diameter of the coin with which the apparatus is constructed to cooperate.

The finger 14 is shown as pivotally mounted on a pin 18 mounted in a block 19 and is so arranged that its inner end engages and moves a spring terminal 20 into contact with a stationary terminal 21, when the outer end of the finger is engaged by a coin. The contact of the terminal 20 with the terminal 21 completes an electric circuit and actuates an trolling, a mechanically actuated mechanism and that electricity need not be employed as an intermediate agent.

The operation of the apparatus illustrated is as follows: A coin introduced into the passage 5, through the slot 4, rolls down the inclined portion of the passage and drops through the vertically 'disposed portion. It is then supported on its peripheral edge in a vertical position by the edges of the slit 6. The plunger 7 is then moved inwardly and the coin is thereby rolled or moved through the horizontal portion of the passage 5 and into engagement with the spring 13, if it is of the proper thickness. The spring 13, as has been said, tends to eject the coin laterally through the aperture '11 prior to the time that the coin has moved into engagement with the projecting end of the finger 14. However, if the coin is of the propersize it will pass through the horizontal portion of the passage, in response to the push of the plunger, and will engage the end of the finger 14, prior to the time that its peripheral edge is released by the edge of the aperture 11. After the coin has engaged the finger, the continued inward motion of the plunger causes it to move up onto the finger and to swing the finger about the pin 18 and to thereby actuate the spring terminal 20 and-to complete the electric circuit. The aperture 111's preferably so con structed that a coin of the proper size will be released by the edge of an aperture 11 immediately after it has engaged the finger 14 and has completed the electric circuit in the manner described. As soon as the coin is released by the edge of the aperture, the spring 13 operates to eject it laterally through the aperture and onto the bottom of the casing 10.

If the coin or metal disk, introduced through the slot 4, is less than the proper thickness it will fall through the elongated aperture or slit 6 before it can be moved into engagement with the finger 14. The slit is of such length that it will insure the discharge of a thin coin and is so arranged that the plunger 7 cannot be manipulated so as to prevent the thin coin from being discharged. If a thin coin fails to fall through the slit 6,

as soon as it is received into the horizontal portion of the passage 5, it will be ejected therethrough while it is being moved forward by the plunger since the slit 6, extends the entire length of the horizontal portion of the passage. WVhen a coin of the proper thickness, but which is small in diameter, is introduced through the slot 4 it drops into the horizontal portion of the passage 5 and is moved forward by the plunger 7. Its peripheral edge, however, is disengaged from the peripheral edge of the aperture 11 before it contacts with the finger 14 and consequently it is ejected from the passage with out actuating the spring terminal 20.

Should a'coin of sufficient thinness to drop through slot 6, because of the slot having become clogged with dirt, or because the thin coin has in some other manner failed to drop through the slot, the aperture 11 Will also act to eject thin coins as well as coins of smaller diameter without causing the operation of the circuit closing finger let. The aperture 11 cooperates with the ejecting spring 13 in ejecting thin coins by causing the edge of the thin coins to be gradually pressed outwardly through the aperture, under the influence of the spring 13 as the edge of the coin is released from the edge of the aperture in moving it toward the aperture. It Will thus be seen that the aperture 11 and spring 13 will not only cause rejection of coins of small diameter, but that they will also cause thin coins to be rejected, so that were the slot 6 to be eliminated, the one device comprising aperture 11 and spring 13, would cause rejection of thin coins.

lVith this arrangement I have produced, in eifect, three means for rejecting coins; first, the slot 4 is so constructed that it prevents coins, that are larger than should be employed, from being introduced into the passage; second, the slot 6, aids in rejecting thin coins; and third, the aperture 11 rejects coins of small diameter, as Well as thin coins which may have passed beyond slot 6, before they are effective in actuating the finger 14, or the coin-controlled mechanism. In addition to this the turns in the passage 5 prevent wires or strips from being inserted through the slot 4 and into operative engagement with the finger 14; and it also prevents the use of means for manipulating the mechanism through the agency of slugs or metal disks. The tubing employed in forming the passage 5 is provided, throughout its length with at least one laterally located and longitudinally extending slot. This gives access to the slot and renders it easy to remove foreign material which may be accidentally or maliciously placed in the slot and it also aids in preventing pliable wires from being inserted through the passage, since the slots permit the wire to be disengaged from the tubing.

It will be understood that While I have described a certain portion of the passage 5 as vertically extending, and another portion as horizontally disposed, that this nomenclature is adapted for purposes of description only and that the different portions of the passage 5 may extend in any desired direction, and that various other changes, substitutions, omissions, and nradifications may be made in the apparatus illustrated Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a coin delivery passage having a coin ejectin aperture, a coin actuated finger projecting partially across said aperture, a spring for forcing a coin traversing said passage through said aperture and a plunger for moving a coin across the spring and into engagement with said finger.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a coin delivery passage having a delivery aperture formed therein, a movable coin engaging means projecting partially across the aperture and so positioned with relation to the opposite edge of the aperture, as to engage coins of determined diameter and thickness, prior to their delivery through the aperture, means for moving coins across the aperture toward the coin-engaging means and means for ejecting coins through the aperture.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a coin delivery passage terminating in a coin ejecting aperture, a coin actuated finger projecting into the passage and partially across the aperture, control mechanism located adjacent to and adapted to be operated by the finger, a spring adapted to force a coin traversing the passage through the aperture, and a plunger adapted to move a coin across the spring and into engagement with the finger.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a coin delivery passage terminating in a delivery aperture, a movable coin engaging means projecting partially across the aperture and so positioned with relation to the opposite edge of the aperture, as to engage coins of determined diameter and thickness, prior to their delivery through the aperture, control mechanism located adjacent to and adapted to be operated by the coin-engaging means, means for moving coins across the aperture toward the coin-engaging means, and means for ejecting coins through the aperture.

ALBERT F. HAUSS.

Witnesses:

W. THORNTON Boonn'r, E. W. MoCALLIsTnR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

